Lost in Translation???

[janiebaby]

Ok, I have been struggling for awhile about the different versions of the Bible and which one to use. Now I remember someone warned me about a different version but it was in regard to a different denomination of Christians at the time.

I currently have the New Living Translation and it is easier to grasp and understand but I remember a sermon that my pastor was teaching us and he read from his Bible which I think is the King James Version or some variant of it and when I looked in my Bible (which makes it difficult to follow along with his sermons) I saw that a reference to the Lord was omitted and I felt uneasy about it.

I also remember that as a child I used to question the different translations of the Bible because of Revelations 22:18-19,

18For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

19And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

I wondered then how feasible it was to translate a text without adding or taking away words even in the King James version? I am currently thinking about getting a King James Version and asking the Holy Spirit to help me understand what is written.

[CandiceC]

Thanks for asking this question. I was wondering about this myself. I've always used the King James Version because I'm wary of the other translations.

[Nice & Wavy]

Don't make too much of this. Read the bible that you feel comfortable with at home and if its easier to read along with your pastor and what he is teaching from, then get what he is reading.

The different translations were meant to help those who may have a difficult time understanding language, even the english language....to make it easier for the reader to understand it.

I have spoken to women who are from the south and they say things differently than I do...and vice versa. It doesn't make it wrong, just different. If I don't understand what they are saying, I ask.

I don't think things are omitted as much as it is translated differently so that one word will cover the 2 words that would be in another translation.

HTH

[Shimmie]

Precious Wavy, I totally agree with all you've shared .... :yep:

Especially regarding Southern dialects, that is an excellent example you gave us. :yep: (ex.: "I'm a finna go to the sto...." -- Translation: "I'm going to the store.") I love the word 'finna'. :lachen:When my babies use it, I can't help but laugh, it's so cute, especially since I'm Harlem boughie...:rolleyes: :lachen:

And Janie, I understand for I too used to be very concerned regarding the book of Revelation's 'warning' in 'changing' God's word. But God is saying, don't say what He did not say.

I have a paralellel Bible that I've used for years. On the spread of two pages it has four (4) columns with the four different translations noted below.

King James
Amplified
Living
Revised Standard

There are different paralellel Bible translations that you can choose from. It can be 2 translations or 4. I started out with two translations (King James and the Living Bible).

I am to read the same passages in different translations while being on the same page and in ONE Bible. :drunk: I used to have several Bibles open at once before having a paralellel.

I use it mainly for home Bible study, this book is heavy.... :drunk: but I've taken it to Church several times and was able to read from whatever Pastor was teaching from.

[Nice & Wavy]

Precious Wavy, I totally agree with all you've shared .... :yep:

Especially regarding Southern dialects, that is an excellent example you gave us. :yep: (ex.: "I'm a finna go to the sto...." -- Translation: "I'm going to the store.") I love the word 'finna'. :lachen:When my babies use it, I can't help but laugh, it's so cute, especially since I'm Harlem boughie...:rolleyes: :lachen:

And Janie, I understand for I too used to be very concerned regarding the book of Revelation's 'warning' in 'changing' God's word. But God is saying, don't say what He did not say.

I have a paralellel Bible that I've used for years. On the spread of two pages it has four (4) columns with the four different translations noted below.

King James
Amplified
Living
Revised Standard

There are different paralellel Bible translations that you can choose from. It can be 2 translations or 4. I started out with two translations (King James and the Living Bible).

I am to read the same passages in different translations while being on the same page and in ONE Bible. :drunk: I used to have several Bibles open at once before having a paralellel.

I use it mainly for home Bible study, this book is heavy.... :drunk: but I've taken it to Church several times and was able to read from whatever Pastor was teaching from.

LOL...I'ma finna to go home soon....:lachen::lachen:

Thanks Shimmie, I too love the Paralellel bible...it's good for studying.

[janiebaby]

Thank you both!

I had hoped that I could use the King James Version to follow along with the sermons and use both for Bible study.

[Nice & Wavy]

Thank you both!

I had hoped that I could use the King James Version to follow along with the sermons and use both for Bible study.

You can use the KJV for both Church and Bible Study.

When I first got saved, I used the KJV in Church and at home. The Holy Spirit taught me what I needed to understand and I did. To this day, I always go for my KJV first before any other translation.

[vivmaiko]

I like the New King James version. That and the KJV are close literal translations (complete equivalence), while the other versions range from being updated to today's language (dynamic equivalence) to being complete paraphrase.

As someone who studies languages, I know that you can lose so much in translation. I hate paraphrases - it is basically someone telling you what they think the passage means. Sometimes I've looked at verses in Spanish and then looked at the English bible and it is not the same. Sometimes the connotation (according to language) is different and sometimes the structure is completely different and the meaning is different as well.

The best thing is to study the complete equivalence bibles (KJV and NKJV) and then if you have a friend (I do) or can do research online, every time you wonder about a verse look to the Hebrew or Greek. Or read notes about time period and culture. That helps a lot to get into what is being said.

[indigodiva]

I have a NKJ student bible, but I only read The Message and Contemporary English Versions on biblegateway.com. I'm about to finally buy a Message bible so I can take that to church. Its not really a big deal to me whether or not I can follow responsive reading..especially since the scriptures will be shown on different projection screens, so I'll just read that when the time comes.

I guess I'm new school, b/c as long as its in language I can understand I'm good to go. I think the Lord had the right idea when made His Word available with our current vernacular.

[natalied]

I love the Message bible BUT it is not a translation of the Bible. It is a paraphrase. I would not use it as my primary learning/study Bible.

[kbragg]

I personally prefer the ESV. It's very easy to read and is a word for word translation that pays careful attention to the nuances of the greek and hebrew languages so that nothing is "lost in translation" so to speak. I like the KJV but unlike what hardcore KJV only peoplewill try to tell you, it is not the most accurate translation. To date the NASB is the most accurate translation. I have an NASB and an ESV and they are almost exactly the same, the ESV being easier to read. It draws me in and when I start reading, it's like I can't put it down. I do not like the paraphrases at all:nono: I found a chart at the Bible book store that lays out the differences really clearly. Let me find it for you.:grin:

ETA: Fount it! (yep, that's a word:lol:) http://www.zondervan.com/Cultures/en-US/Translations/Stats/Index.htm?QueryStringSite=Zondervan